[aks_karthik]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

How long will it take for me to cover the Tirunelveli - Madras route? I normally drive very fast...

Any pitfalls in this route? Anything major (horrible bend; blind corners; etc.) things to remember?

I plan to start from Nellai at about 0600.

Thanks in advance.

I used to travel every month to Tirunelveli from Chennai with my entire family in my Linea.
You have to be careful on Madurai by pass which connects NH 45A with NH 7. It's a single road and Govt. buses always come on Wrong direction.
Rest of the route is very safer with 4 lanes.
It takes 7hrs running time if you do average Speed around 80 kmph.
Toll itself comes Rs. 470+ one way.
Try to start before 5 AM otherwise you might be caught in Traffic till the first Toll near Mahindra City and some times extend to Tindivanam.

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by aks_karthik

Try to start before 5 AM otherwise you might be caught in Traffic till the first Toll near Mahindra City and some times extend to Tindivanam.

Thanks.

I'll be travelling from Tirunelveli to Madras.

[aks_karthik]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

Thanks.

I'll be travelling from Tirunelveli to Madras.

I misinterpreted.
But try to reach Tindivanam before 12 Noon so that you don't face any heavy traffic between Tindivanam and Chennai and traffic depends on day of the week too. Weekends are worser than weekdays.
Any way Happy Journey

[Tempelhof]

While travelling from Tirunelveli to Madras (I have never gone in this route), what are the best places for coffee / bio-breaks?

I'd like to start from Tirunelveli at about 0600, so I need to know a good place for breakfast, too.

Thanks.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

While travelling from Tirunelveli to Madras (I have never gone in this route), what are the best places for coffee / bio-breaks?

I'd like to start from Tirunelveli at about 0600, so I need to know a good place for breakfast, too.

Take Tirunelveli-Madurai-Dindigul-Trichy-Ulundupet-Madras. You will do 8-10 km of suburban Trichy traffic, which wouldn't be much of a pain compared to the 26 km stupid goon governed 2-lane bypass connecting to Melur road. Toll is cheaper by 60 bucks, distance increases by 15 km, but duration is almost same to reach TVS tollgate from Tirumangalam by both routes at my speeds.

Tirunelveli-Tirumangalam - 2 hrs
Tirumangalam-Trichy - 2:15 hrs
Trichy-Madras - 4:30 hrs

All these numbers are at speeds 80-100

Break at Trichy, have a heavy breakfast and head to Madras for late lunch. If you enter before 4:00 pm, you can preserve your sanity entering Madras city

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Take Tirunelveli-Madurai-Dindigul-Trichy-Ulundupet-Madras. You will do 8-10 km of suburban Trichy traffic, which wouldn't be much of a pain compared to the 26 km stupid goon governed 2-lane bypass connecting to Melur road.

This is something new - to go via Dindigul.

Is the road connecting NH 7 to NH 38 so bad?

Still wondering about breakfast, since my normal BF time is 0630

Thanks a lot.

Originally Posted by aks_karthik

You have to be careful on Madurai by pass which connects NH 45A with NH 7. It's a single road and Govt. buses always come on Wrong direction.
Rest of the route is very safer with 4 lanes.

I am not able to find NH 45A in Google Map. I am only seeing NH 38. Am I missing something?

Which exact segment is two-lane? Can you let me know?

Note from Team-bhp Support: Please use the EDIT or MULTI-QUOTE buttons instead of typing one post after another on the SAME THREAD!

[aks_karthik]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

I am not able to find NH 45A in Google Map. I am only seeing NH 38. Am I missing something?

Which exact segment is two-lane? Can you let me know?

It's NH 38. Seems NH 45A is renamed as NH 38. You might see some sign boards with NH 45A.
Please refer the attached google map image - Route1 is 2 lane road.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

This is something new - to go via Dindigul.
Is the road connecting NH 7 to NH 38 so bad?

It was new for me until I tried it during my trip in May. Yes the connecting bypass is a badly maintained and below par, and you have to negotiate traffic. To top it all, you have to pay 50 bucks as toll.

Cross Trichy isn't too bad a deal unless you do it at peak hour. It took 20 min (Sunday 7pm), 25 min (Sunday 330 pm) and 45 min (Friday 530pm).

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

On NH, my normal speeds are a constant 140 kmph, peaking occasionally at 165 kmph. Still wondering about breakfast, since my normal BF time is 0630

Tirunelveli-Madurai and Trichy-Dindigul (esp close to Dindigul) have jokers on wrong side coming straight at you.

You should probably think of having your breakfast and starting

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by narayans80

It was new for me until I tried it during my trip in May. Yes the connecting bypass is a badly maintained and below par, and you have to negotiate traffic. To top it all, you have to pay 50 bucks as toll.

Cross Trichy isn't too bad a deal unless you do it at peak hour. It took 20 min (Sunday 7pm), 25 min (Sunday 330 pm) and 45 min (Friday 530pm).

How good is the road from Dindigul to Trichy? Is this as good as the NH 7?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

How good is the road from Dindigul to Trichy? Is this as good as the NH 7?

Its a complete 4-lane. All works completed. Thought I dont know of any break points in between.

[narayans80]

As ampere, it is fully 4-lane. You'll have to go through Trichy for 10 km which is not that bad compared to the 26 km insult of Madurai bypass

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by ampere

Its a complete 4-lane. All works completed. Thought I dont know of any break points in between.

Originally Posted by narayans80

As ampere, it is fully 4-lane. You'll have to go through Trichy for 10 km which is not that bad compared to the 26 km insult of Madurai bypass

Thanks - Yes, I am planning to drive from Tirunelveli to Madras through Dindigul this weekend, avoiding the Madurai (Kappalore-Madurai-Airport-Melur) stretch.

I hope I don't get lost in Trichy

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

I hope I don't get lost in Trichy

You won't. Once the 4-lane ends, driving straight (~ 6-7 km) till you hit a roundabout. Take a right there, cross the ultra narrow railway bridge and drive straight again ( ~ 2 km). You'll hit TVS tollgate under 5 min. There are Aryas and Grand Gardenia at TVS tollgate in case you need to eat. Otherwise if you take a left at the roundabout you'll hit the Central Bus Stand where there are countless options to eat.

[raju2512]

There is a road from Manaparai (on Dingual - Trichy road) to Thuvarankurichi (on the Madurai- Trichy road) which the Govt buses from Trichy to Madurai used to take before 4 laning. If it is still good, it will be a better option. You can avoid Madurai by-pass and also Trichy traffic

[Tempelhof]

Started from Tirunelveli on Saturday (18th) morning at 0535.

Tirunelveli : 0535
Madurai (byepass) : 0705
Dindigul (byepass) : 0740 (Breakfast)
Trichy : 0915
Chengalpattu : 1230
Madras (Palavakkam) : 1415

Heavy traffic from Chengalpatu onwards.

No problem in navigating through Trichy.